Woman sets Appalachian Trial fastest-hike record

    A woman says she has set the unofficial record for the fastest hike of the entire 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail.

    Jennifer Pharr Davis arrived at Springer Mountain in Georgia on Sunday after slightly more than 46 days on the trial. She embarked from Mount Katahdin in Maine on June 16 and averaged 47 miles per day.

    No one keeps official speed records for the trail. But it appears Davis beat the existing record by a day. She also beat her own record for the fastest Appalachian Trail hike by a woman by 11 days.

    She did have one advantage: Davis did the hike without a pack. Her husband and friends helped get her food and supplies.

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    Davis said Tuesday she hopes the journey encourages young women to exercise outside.

    Hear the story on today’s Morning Edition, or listen here after 9 p.m.

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